West Ham United V Stoke City Betting Preview  19/11/12

Monday night football this week brings us West Ham United V Stoke City. Perhaps not the most exciting fixture of the weekend but nevertheless an important game for both sides as they will go into the game confident they can pick up three points. Choose a free bet for this match.

West Ham United

A solid start to the season for West Ham sees them in sixth place going into this weekend’s game, a start so good that makes you forget it was only last season they were in the Championship. Their home form has been particularly pleasing for Hammers fans as they have managed eleven out of the possible eighteen points up for grabs at home. Their goal scoring record at home is likewise very good, for every goal they have conceded they have managed to score double. Bet 365 has priced them at evens to take all three points on Monday, a very generous price for a side that is in top form at home having only lost the one game to Arsenal. He may be yet to score since his arrival at Upton Park but it is surely only a matter of time before Andy Carroll gets his name on the score sheet. William Hill has him at 11/2 to grab the first goal against Stoke.  There is also Kevin Nolan, who has been prolific in front of goal again this season with five so far to his name and is priced the same as Carroll to score the first goal in this game.

Stoke City

Monday’s fixture may be a tough ask for a Stoke side that has struggled to win away from home this season. A mixed start for Tony Pulis’s side has meant they have had to rely heavily on their good home form to pick up their points. Bet365 is offering 14/5 for the Stoke win, an unsurprising price that replicates their poor start away from home. If Stoke apply their usual policy away from home and try and come out with just a point it may be difficult for West Ham to break them down. Under 2.5 goals is 7/10 on Bet 365 and may well be a good bet in a game with two teams who have very solid defences.

Summary

It’s likely this will be a very close game with the most likely winners being West Ham. The fact Stoke are yet to win away will be a big hindrance as they travel to a tough away ground. A West Ham win or draw is 1/4 on William Hill in a game where it’s difficult to see an away victory. There is a strong possibility however that this game will end a draw and at 21/10 on William Hill it is certainly tempting. It could be profitable to back a low scoring game, with a 1-0 win for West Ham or a 1-1 draw the most likely.

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